Lighting module and lighting apparatus including the same

ABSTRACT

A lighting module includes a case including an opening where a light emits from, a base portion corresponding to the opening, and a seat on at least one side of the base portion. The lighting module further includes a light source unit disposed on the seat, a light guide plate placed within the case and optically connected with the light source unit, and a diffusing plate placed within the case and placed below the light guide plate.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This embodiment relates to a lighting module including a plurality oflighting emitting devices and creating light, and to a lightingapparatus including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an electric bulb or a fluorescent lamp is commonly used asan indoor or outdoor lighting lamp. However, the electric bulb or thefluorescent lamp has a short life span, so that it should be frequentlychanged. Moreover, a conventional fluorescent lamp is degraded due toelapse of time for its use. As a result, it is often that itsilluminance is gradually decreased.

In order to overcome such problems, a lighting apparatus is now beingdeveloped by using a light emitting device (hereinafter, referred to asLED). The LED is easy to control and has a rapid response speed, highelectro-optic conversion efficiency, a long life span, low powerconsumption and high luminance. The LED is also used to create emotionallighting.

Meanwhile, for the many of the lighting apparatus using LED, they arebeing manufactured with limited form or shape according to theinstallation space. Therefore, lighting apparatus having high degree offreedom in usage or space is required.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of the present invention is a lighting module. Thelighting module includes:

-   -   a case including an opening where a light emits from, a base        portion corresponding to the opening, and a seat on at least one        side of the base portion;    -   a light source unit disposed on the seat;    -   a light guide plate placed within the case and optically        connected with the light source unit; and    -   a diffusing plate placed within the case and placed below the        light guide plate.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a lighting module. Thelighting module includes:

-   -   a case which is formed as one plate with an opening emitting        light and includes a first seat and a second seat formed by        bending the both ends of the plate such that the both ends face        each other;    -   a first and a second light source units placed in the first and        the second seats of the case;    -   a light guide plate which is placed in the first and the second        seats, and placed between the first and the second light source        units, so that the light incident from the first and the second        light source units is emitted toward the opening; and    -   a diffusing plate which is placed in the first and the second        seats, and placed between the light guide plate and the opening,        so that the light emitted from the light guide plate is diffused        to the opening.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a lighting apparatus. Thelighting apparatus includes:

-   -   a case including an opening and a seat;    -   a light source unit disposed on the seat of the case;    -   a light guide plate optically connected with the light source        unit; and    -   a diffusing plate which is placed below the light guide plate        and diffuses the light emitted from the light guide plate to the        opening,        -   wherein at least one part of the case has a connector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for describing a structure of a lightingmodule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view for describing a structure of alighting module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing opticalefficiency according to allocation structure of a sub-reflector.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing aconnection structure of a plurality of lighting modules.

FIG. 5 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing anintermediate connection member to connect a plurality of lightingmodules.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are embodiments of the present invention fordescribing a structure of a case.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing astructure and principle of operation of a light source module placedwithin a case.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing anotherstructure of a lighting module.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are embodiments of the present invention showinginstallation status of a lighting module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

In the drawings, a thickness or size of each layer is shown roughly,exaggeratedly, or briefly for convenience sake of the description or fora definite description. In addition, a size of each element does notreflect entirely real size.

In addition, for the description of the embodiments, in the case ofdescribing as forming each element “on” or “under” another element, “on”or “under” includes all of being formed as contacting “directly” witheach other or as one or more other element allocating between“indirectly” formed things. In addition, in the case of describing as“on” or “under”, “on” or “under” may include a meaning of not onlyupward direction but also downward direction with respect to an element.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for describing a structure of a lightingmodule according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2is a cross sectional view for describing a structure of a lightingmodule according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a lighting module 400 includes a case200, a first light source unit 150A, a second light source unit 150B, afirst luminescent film 170 a, a second luminescent film 170 b, a lightguide plate 110, a diffusing plate 190, a reflector 130, a firstconnector 300A, and a second connector 300 b.

The case 200 may be manufactured by assembling a plurality of flanges ormay be manufactured in the form of a plate by using an extrusion moldingmethod. A first and a second seat 202 a, 202 b where the light sourceunit can be placed on are formed on the case 200 by bending twice theboth ends of the plate of the plate respectively as FIG. 6 a. The bothends of the plate face each other, and an opening 201 is defined by theboth ends of the plate. The case 200 has a constant cross section ofwhich both sides are parallel with each other in the longitudinaldirection thereof.

In addition, the case 200 may include at least one or more projection250 a extended from one side. Such projection fixes and supports thelight guide plate seated within the case. As a result, it can preventdisplacement of the light guide plate due to external impact and improvealignment characteristic between internal structures of the case.

The first light source unit 150A and the second light source unit 150Beach have a substrate 151 a, 151 b, a light emitting diode 152 a, 152 bdisposed on the substrate, and a sub-reflector 153 a, 153 b covers theplurality of the light emitting diodes, and are inserted into the firstand a second seat 202 a, 202 b of the case so as to place a side of thesubstrate the light emitting diode is disposed on to face each other.

Meanwhile, the end of the surface of the sub-reflector 153 a, 153 b isprojected further toward the direction the light is irradiated onto thanthe end of the light emitting diode 152 a, 152 b disposed on thesubstrate 151 a, 151 b. That is, the distance d1 between the substrate151 a, 151 b and the end of the surface of the sub-reflector 153 a, 153b is greater than the distance d2 between the substrate 151 a, 151 b andthe end of the light emitting diode 152 a, 152 b.

The reason for this is to prevent the light reflected from the lightguide plate 110 from being irradiated onto the light emitting diode 152a, 152 b when the light emitted from the light emitting diode 152 a, 152b is irradiated onto the light guide plate 110 through the luminescentfilm 170 a, 170 b or is irradiated onto the light guide plate 110directly without the luminescent film 170 a, 170 b. That is, thesub-reflector 153 a, 153 b blocks the possible path of the lightirradiated onto the light emitting diode 152 a, 152 b in advance toreflect the reflected light from the light guide plate 110 back to thelight guide plate 110. Therefore, the optical efficiency of the lightingmodule will be improved.

The light emitting diodes included in the first light source unit 150Aand the second light source unit 150B emit a light with same color, butthey may emit a light with different color. Therefore, creating lightwith various colors can be done by combination of two different colors,so that emotional lighting apparatus can be created. The light emittingdiode 152 a, 152 b may emit a light with at least one of blue, red, andgreen.

While not shown, translucent resin seal the light emitting diode at thetop portion of the light emitting diode, so as to enable the lightemitting diode to emit a light with its own color. However, whenemitting a light with its own color, for example, when the lightemitting device is blue light emitting diode, the fluorescent materialincluded in the translucent resin may include at least one or more of agarnet based material (YAG, TAG), a silicate based material, a nitridebased material, and an oxynitride based material.

The natural light (white light) can be created by including only ayellow fluorescent material in the translucent resin. However, it mayfurther include a green fluorescent material or a red fluorescentmaterial so as to increase the color rendering index and decrease colortemperature.

In addition, when various kinds of fluorescent material are mixed in thetranslucent resin, regarding the addition ratio according to the colorof the fluorescent material, the green fluorescent material may usedmore than the red fluorescent material, and the yellow fluorescentmaterial may used more than the green fluorescent material.

YAG of a garnet based material, a silicate based material, and anoxynitride based material may be used as a yellow fluorescent material,a silicate based material and an oxynitride based material may be usedas a green fluorescent material, and a nitride based material may beused as a red fluorescent material.

Besides mixture of various kinds of fluorescent material, thetranslucent resin may consist of separately divided layers of a layerwith a red fluorescent material, a layer with a green fluorescentmaterial, and a yellow fluorescent material.

Such a light emitting diode may be lateral type or vertical type, andmay emit a light with blue, red, yellow, or green.

Such fluorescent material may be applied to the first luminescent film170 a, and the second luminescent film 170 b described later.

The light guide plate 110 is placed along the direction of the path ofthe light emitted from the first light source unit 150A and the secondlight source unit 150B, and inserted within the case along thelongitudinal direction of the case 200. Here, the both ends of the lightguide plate 110 are inserted into the first and the second seat 202 a,202 b, and emit the light emitted from the first light source unit 150Aand the second light source unit 150B toward the opening 201.

The first luminescent film 170 a and the second luminescent film 170 bis placed respectively between the first light source unit 150A and thesecond light source unit 150B, and include various fluorescent materialinside. Such a first luminescent film 170 a and a second luminescentfilm 170 b may convert a part of the wavelength of the light emittedfrom the first light source unit 150A and the second light source unit150B so as to convert the color of the light.

While not shown, the first luminescent film 170 a and the secondluminescent film 170 b may include translucent resin and a fluorescentmaterial contained within the translucent resin. A curing agent or anadditive agent may be included within the transparent resin. The curingagent cures the transparent resin. The additive agent dispersesuniformly the fluorescent material within the transparent resin. Adiffusing agent may be included within the transparent resin. Thediffusing agent improves the refractive index of a light source, thusincreasing the excitation ratio of the fluorescent material.

The light diffusing plate 190 is placed between the light guide plate110 and the opening 201 and inserted within the case 200 to diffuse andemit the light emitted from the light guide plate 110. Here, the bothends of the diffusing plate 190 are inserted into the first and thesecond seat 202 a, 202 b of the case. In addition, the end of thediffusing plate 190 is substantially aligned with the end of the lightguide plate 110. The reason for this is to have a stable supportstructure among the light guide plate 110, the luminescent film 170 a,170 b, the diffusing plate 190, and the sub-reflector 153 a, 153 b. Thatis because the end of the diffusing plate is contact with the end of thesub-reflector and the end of the light guide plate is contact with theluminescent film at a same time so as to substantially fix each elementstably.

In addition, it is to irradiate the irradiated light to the light guideplate 100 and the diffusing plate 190 and emit the irradiated light tothe opening 201 without optical loss due to irradiation to the case whenthe end of the diffusing plate 190 is substantially contact with atleast the sub-reflector and the light emitted from the light emittingdiode is irradiated onto the light guide plate 100 through theluminescent film or is irradiated onto the light guide plate directlywithout the luminescent film. As a result, the optical efficiencycharacteristic is improved.

The reflector 130 is placed above the light guide plate 110, reflectsthe emitted light from the light guide plate 110 to the direction to thediffusing plate 190, and the both ends of the reflector 130 is insertedinto the first and the second seat 202 a, 202 b of the case like theboth ends of the diffusing plate. In addition, the end of the reflectoris also aligned with the end of the light guide plate so as to have astable support structure among the light guide plate 110, theluminescent film 170 a, 170 b, the diffusing plate 190, thesub-reflector 153 a, 153 b, and the reflector 130. Such a reflector maybe omitted from a lighting module if the reflection characteristic ofthe inner surface of the case is good.

The first connector 300A and the second connector 300B are disposed onthe external side face of the case 200. The external side face of thecase can be an external side face of a base portion 250 of the case oran external side face of a first and the second extending portion 210 a,210 b as described later in FIG. 4. However it is desirable that thefirst connector 300A and the second connector 300B are disposed on theexternal side face of the base portion 250 of the case along thelongitudinal direction of the case at the middle of the both ends. Thefirst connector 300A and the second connector 300B respectively includea plurality of connection pins 301 a, 301 b arranged inside thereof andan external case 303 a, 303 b covering the plurality of connection pins.

At least one of such a first connector 300A and a second connector 300Bfunctions as connection member to connect with another lighting module400 including the case 200. As such, because the lighting moduleaccording to the embodiment of the present invention consists of asingle module to emit a light, the lighting module itself can be used asa lighting apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing opticalefficiency according to allocation structure of a sub-reflector.

Referring to FIG. 3, the emitted light from the light emitting diode 152a is irradiated onto the direction to the light guide plate 110 with anorientation angle. Here, the sub-reflector 153 a is placed to protrudefrom the substrate with predetermined distance so as to irradiate 90% ofthe emitted light to the light guide plate directly. That is, most ofthe emitted light from the light emitting diode is not irradiated ontothe sub-reflector 153 covering the light emitting diode disposed on thesubstrate 151 a.

Therefore, because most of the light emitted from the light emittingdiode is not irradiated onto the sub-reflector, and the sub-reflectorprevents the light irradiated onto the light guide plate from reflectingand irradiating onto the light emitting diode in advance and reflectsthe light back to the light guide plate, the optical efficiency can beimproved.

In addition, the light having an outermost orientation angle among thelight emitted from the light emitting diode is not irradiated onto thesub-reflector but is irradiated onto the light guide plate directly soas to maximize the optical efficiency.

Meanwhile, when a single lighting module is used as a lightingapparatus, one of the first connector and the second connector can be anelectrical connection path supplying power to the lighting module,however, when a plurality of lighting modules placed and connected in aline, the connector disposed on the end of the case of the lightingmodule placed outermost can be an electrical connection path supplyingpower.

As a result, a plurality of lighting modules becomes a lightingapparatus so as to enlarging the light emitting range. In addition,because the lighting module according to the embodiment of the presentinvention consists of a single module to emit a light, the lightingmodule itself can be used as a lighting apparatus.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing aconnection structure of a plurality of lighting modules, and FIG. 5 isan embodiment of the present invention for describing an intermediateconnection member to connect a plurality of lighting modules.

In FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, one side of a first lighting module and a secondlighting module of the lighting apparatus are contacted and connected toeach other. Because the structures of the first lighting module and thesecond lighting module are described above, descriptions of them areomitted. The first connector 300A disposed on the outside of the baseportion of the case 200 included in the first lighting module and thesecond connector 300B disposed on the external side face of the baseportion of the case 200′ included in the second lighting module areconnected with the intermediate connection member 500.

The intermediate connection member 500 has a first insertion recess 511and a second insertion groove 511′, and a first connection recess 513and a second connection recess 513′ formed within the first insertionrecess 511 and the second insertion recess 511′ respectively. An outercase 303 a and a connection pin 301 a of the first connector 300A areinserted into the first insertion recess 511 and the first connectionrecess 513 respectively, and an outer case 303 b′ and a connection pin301 b′ of the second connector are inserted into the second insertionrecess 511′ and the second connection recess 513′ respectively so as tomechanically connect and fix the first lighting module and the secondlighting module.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are embodiments of the present invention fordescribing a structure of a case.

As shown in FIG. 6 a, the case 200 includes a first and a secondextending portion 210 a, 210 b, a first flange portion 230 a and asecond flange portion 230 b bent and extended respectively from a sideof the first and the second extending portion 210 a, 210 b, and a baseportion 250 bent and extended from the first extending portion 210 a andconnected to the other side of the second extending portion 210 b.

As a result, the first and the second seat 202 a, 202 b are formed atboth sides of the inside of the case 200, and the first flange portion230 a and the second flange portion 230 b face each other with adistance so as to have the opening 201.

In addition, like FIG. 6 b, the base portion 250 of the case 200 has oneor more projection 250 a extended from the internal side face, and theprojection 250 a increase an adhesion force among the reflector, thelight guide plate, and the diffusing plate so as to fix and support thestructures more stably. The projection 250 a may have a line shape alongthe longitudinal direction of the case. In addition, the projection 250a may have a dot shape locally arranged at the front side of the baseportion of the case.

The first flange portion 230 a and the second flange portion 230 b areextended and bent along the direction parallel to the base portion 250with respect to the first and the second extending portion 210 a, 210 brespectively. However, it is desirable that the first flange portion 230a and the second flange portion 230 b are bent at an acute angle (θ<90).Therefore, it is possible to fix and support more the structure insertedinto the first seat 202 a and the second seat 202 b, i.e. the diffusingplate, the light guide plate, and the reflector.

In addition, the material of the case 200 can be metal, for example,aluminum or iron, and it is more desirable that the case can haveelasticity.

In the embodiment of the present invention described above, forconvenience sake of the description, the device including the firstlight source unit 150A, the second light source unit 150B, the firstluminescent film 170 a, the second luminescent film 170 b, the lightguide plate 110, the diffusing plate 190, and the reflector 130 isreferred to as a light source module.

FIG. 7 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing astructure and a principle of operation of a light source module placedwithin a case.

As shown in the figure, the light source module 100 includes the lightguide plate 110, the reflector 130, the light source unit 150A, 150B,the luminescent film 170 a, 170 b, and the diffusing plate 190.

The light guide plate 110 converts a point light source into a surfacelight source, and a specific pattern 111 is formed on a side so as toemit the light incident on the inside to the outside. The specificpattern 111 functions to diffuse or scatter the light and to emit thelight to the outside. Such a light guide plate is made of transparentresin, and can be printed through the silk screen process.

The diffusing plate 190 can be placed above the light guide plate 110.The diffusing plate functions to uniformly emit the light incident onthe inside of the light guide plate 110.

The reflector 130 is placed below the light guide plate 110, andprevents the light incident on the inside of the light guide plate 110from emitting rearward of the light guide plate.

The light source unit 150A, 150B is placed by the side of the lightguide plate 110. The light source unit 150A, 150B can be every possibledevice able to emit a light, and in the embodiment of the presentinvention, a light emitting diode 152 a, 152 b is used as the lightemitting device. Such a light source unit 150A, 150B includes thesubstrate 151 a, 151 b and a plurality of light emitting diodes 152 a,152 b disposed on the substrate 151 a, 151 b, and is optically connectedto the light guide plate so as to irradiate the light emitted from thelight source unit 150A, 150B onto the inside of the light guide plate110.

The luminescent film 170 a, 170 b is placed between the light guideplate 110 and the light source unit 150A, 150B, and may includes variouskinds of fluorescent material inside. In the case of including such afluorescent material, a luminescent film 170 a, 170 b convert a part ofthe wavelength of the emitted light from the light source unit 150A,150B to change the color of the light.

While not shown, the light source unit 150A, 150B and the luminescentfilm 170 a, 170 b are placed respectively on the seat 202 a, 202 b ofthe inside of the case 200 described in the FIG. 2. In addition, theboth respective ends of the light guide plate 110, the diffusing plate190, and the reflector 130 are placed to be inserted into the seat 202a, 202 b of the inside of the case 200.

FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention for describing anotherstructure of a lighting module.

As shown in the figure, the lighting module includes the case 200including the light source module inside thereof and a end cap 350connected to the both ends of the case 200 and bent and extended alongthe opposite direction the light is irradiated.

The case 200 has a heat radiating groove 200 a formed on a side of thebase portion 250, and the end cap 350 has a projection 351 on an endthereof. The case 200 has a receiving recess 351 a corresponding to theprojection 351, and the end cap has a recess 350 a.

The base portion 250 of the case may have a convex shape to enlarge thesurface area of a side of the base portion for effective heat radiatingof the inner light source.

The end cap 350 bent and extended rearward is connected to the both endsof the case 200. It is desirable that the end cap 350 is bent at a rightangle, and is formed continuously to connect with the case 200. In theembodiment, the heat radiating groove 200 a is formed continuously toconnect with a side of the case 200, and the size of the end cap 350 isthe same as a side face of the case 200.

The projection 351 is disposed on the side connected to the case 200 ofthe end cap 350, and can be connected to the corresponding receivingrecess 351 a disposed on the front, rear, and side face of the case 200by insertion. In addition, the end cap 350 has the recess 350 a so as tobe used for various attachments to the wall or ceiling.

FIG. 9 is showing installation status of a lighting module 400 accordingto the present invention, and the lighting module can be installed tothe surface of a wall or ceiling. Here, the installed surface and thecase 200 or the lighting module 400 are a predetermined distant apart bythe end cap 350 being bent towards the rear side of the lighting module400. Especially when the lighting module 400 according to the presentinvention is installed to the surface of a wall, the secured space assuch can be used for placing a ballast stabilizer or can include heatradiating structure having a volume not exceeding the space to help heatradiation of the inner light source of the lighting module 400. Inaddition, the lighting module can be installed to the ceiling in pendentform as FIG. 10.

As the occasion demand, a plurality of the lighting modules 400 can beconnected by using predetermined connection member (not shown) and areceiving recess 351 a, and can be used as an extended form byconnecting the end cap 350 to the both ends when it reached the intendedlength.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the foregoing embodiments is intended to be illustrative,and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1. A lighting module, comprising: a case including an opening where alight emits from, a base portion corresponding to the opening, and aseat on at least one side of the base portion; a light source unitdisposed on the seat; a light guide plate placed within the case andoptically connected with the light source unit; and a diffusing plateplaced within the case and placed below the light guide plate; whereinthe light source unit includes a substrate, a plurality of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the substrate, and a sub-reflectordisposed on the substrate and covering the LEDs, and wherein thedistance between the substrate and the end of the sub-reflector isgreater than the distance between the substrate and the end of the LEDs.2. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the case includes a first anda second extending portion respectively extended from the both ends ofthe base portion along the perpendicular direction; and a first and asecond flange portion respectively extended from the ends of the firstand the second extending portion.
 3. The lighting module of claim 2,wherein a face of the first and the second flange portion of the caseare bent at an acute angle with respect to the first and the secondextending portions.
 4. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the baseportion of the case includes at least one projection, and the projectionfixes and supports the light guide plate.
 5. The lighting module ofclaim 4, wherein the at least one projection is disposed locally or in alongitudinal direction of the case.
 6. The lighting module of claim 1,further comprising a luminescent film placed between the light sourceunit and the light guide plate.
 7. The lighting module of claim 1,further comprising a reflector which is placed between the light guideplate and the base portion and reflects the light emitted from the lightsource unit to the direction of the diffusing plate.
 8. The lightingmodule of claim 1, further comprising an end cap connected with an endof the case.
 9. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein at least 90% ofthe light emitted from the LEDs is directly irradiated onto the lightguide plate.
 10. The lighting module of claim 9, wherein the lighthaving an outmost orientation angle among the light emitted from theLEDs is directly irradiated onto the light guide plate.
 11. The lightingmodule of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the case comprises aplurality of grooves on a side thereof.
 12. The lighting module of claim9, wherein the base portion of the case includes at least oneprojection, and the projection fixes and supports the light guide plate.13. The lighting module of claim 9, further comprising a reflector whichis placed between the light guide plate and the base portion andreflects the light emitted from the light source unit to the directionof the diffusing plate.
 14. The lighting module of claim 11, wherein thecase is formed as one plate with the opening, the seat of the caseincludes a first seat and a second seat formed by bending the both endsof the plate such that the both ends face each other, the at least onelight source unit includes a first source unit and a second light sourceunit placed in the first and second seats of the case, the light guideplate is placed in the first and second seats and placed between thefirst and the second light source units, so that the light incident fromthe first and the second light source units is emitted toward theopening, and the diffusing plate is placed in the first and the secondseats and placed between the light guide plate and the opening, so thatthe light emitted from the light guide plate is diffused to the opening.15. The lighting module of claim 14, wherein the case has a crosssection of which both sides are parallel to each other in thelongitudinal direction thereof.
 16. A lighting apparatus, comprising: acase including an opening and a seat; a light source unit including alight emitting diode (LED) and disposed on the seat of the case; a lightguide plate optically connected with the light source unit; and adiffusing plate which is placed below the light guide plate and diffusesthe light emitted from the light guide plate to the opening, wherein atleast one part of the case has a connector, wherein the connectorincludes a plurality of connection pins and an external case surroundingthe plurality of connection pins, and wherein the lighting apparatus isconnected to another lighting module by an intermediate connectionmember having a connection recess corresponding to the plurality of theconnection pins.
 17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, furthercomprising an end cap connected with an end of the case.